Book of the Week: It Takes a Coven (Book #6 in the Witch City Mystery Series) By Carol J. Perry

This week's Book of the week was  Book #6 in the Witch City Mystery Series  By Carol J. Perry called, "It Takes a Coven."  I've read almost ALL of the books in the series and they get better as the series progresses, although I've enjoyed ALL of them!! 

I love all of the characters in this series from Lee the main character, to her boyfriend Detective Pete Mondello, Lee's Aunt Ibby the librarian, and Lee's cat, O'Ryan (a witch's familiar). The mystery is a good one, and it takes quite a while to figure it out, so it will keep you reading. By page 250, I found it hard to put down! 

So, this week's Book of the Week is Strongly Recommended! 

 It Takes a Coven (Book #6 in the Witch City Mystery Series) By Carol J. Perry

BOOK SUMMARY: A series of unexplained deaths is hanging over the Wiccan community. With witches dropping dead before they even come out of the proverbial broom closet, Lee Barrett's best friend, River, fears she might have somehow unleashed a terrible curse on the city. Now, aided by Poe the crow and her clairvoyant cat, Lee sets out to investigate. 

Book of the Week: (Witch City Mysteries) Death Scene by Carol J Perry

 I had the pleasure of reading another book in the wonderful "Witch City Mystery" series called "Death Scene" by Carol J. Perry. This is the 14th in the series and it does not disappoint! 

The story is about a film company that comes to "Witch City" and how a murder gets the lead character, Lee Mondello, wife of Salem, Mass. police detective, involved in trying to figure out who did what. I love all the supporting characters, and the "psychic" cat named O'Ryan, and Lee's Aunt Ibby and her group of older women who try to figure out mysteries. This is another 5 of 5 star cozy mysteries. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  

It takes a lot for Salem locals to get excited about their historic Massachusetts town being known as “the witch city.” But when a major studio arrives to shoot a witchcraft-themed movie, folks go Hollywood. For WICH-TV’S program director and chief documentary-maker, Lee Barrett, however, the project may come complete with a real-life death scene . . .

Between documenting the progress of the movie, corralling starstruck autograph seekers and fans, and managing unmanageable traffic on Salem’s narrow streets, Lee and her police detective husband, Pete Mondello, are beyond busy. Even Lee’s best friend, River North, tarot card reader and practicing witch, gets in on the action, landing a job as a stand-in and body double. But it only takes one interview for Lee to realize that the male and female leads—whose roles include torrid love scenes—despise each other. Yet the problem is short-lived, literally . . .

When the gorgeous lead actress is found dead on a set staged to replicate the room where suspected witches were tried in 1692—and her on-screen lover, in full costume, is discovered sound asleep in her trailer—the hunt is on for a killer on the loose. Nevertheless, the producer decrees “the show must go on!” Now, even with help from River, Lee’s Aunt Ibby, and O’Ryan, a remarkably clairvoyant gentleman cat, sorting out a witch’s brew of secrets, sorcery, and special effects might turn Lee’s documentary into her own final act . . .

Book of the Week: Now You See It by Carol J. Perry (Witch City Mysteries)

Carol Perry's Witch City Mysteries are one of my all-time favorite series and "Now You See it" didn't disappoint. It was engaging, just like all of her characters. Five of Five Stars!

Lee Mondelo, a TV reporter turned program manager who has the ability to perform scrying.. (seeing fortelling images in reflected surfaces) and her husband Pete, a local police officer are great characters. Lee's Aunt Ibby is the town librarian with resources to help with any murder mystery they get involved in... and there's O'Ryan the cat who was once the "familiar" of a now deceased Salem, Mass. witch... and the cat usually comes up with interesting behaviors to clue in Lee and Pete. 

  This mystery in the series was really engaging. It's about a new museum opening to highlight the seafaring days of yesteryear with lots of history and expensive  artifacts... and before it gets off the ground, there's a murder- with a mysterious hooded figure... I couldn't wait to get to the end! It's a great read!

ABOUT THE BOOK: Bestselling author Carol J. Perry returns with the latest installment of her Witch City Mysteries!

Marriage isn’t the only thing new in Lee Barrett’s life when she’s tasked with a hauntingly dangerous assignment in her job as program director for Salem, Massachusetts’s local station, WICH-TV . . .

Just married, Lee and her husband, Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello, are settling into their new home when Lee is dubbed WICH-TV’s new “Historical Documentary Chief Executive.” Her first subject is the brand-newSalem International Museum, slated to be a location for traveling blockbuster exhibits, starting with “Seafaring New England.” From research to collecting artifacts of Salem’s long-ago days as a shipping capital, the project is a challenge—but when the driver of a truckload of antiquities turns up dead under a pile of fall leaves, it’s not quite the kind of challenge Lee expected . . .

Soon, Lee and Pete are dredging up clues along with a hardy crew of helpers, including Lee’s librarian aunt, Ibby, Lee’s best friend and practicing witch, River North—and of course the clairvoyant cat, O’Ryan. But when a ship model in the exhibit’s collection appears to be haunted, Lee will have to dive into her own treasure trove of psychic gifts before a killer comes to the surface to strike again . . .

A Fantastic Cozy Mystery: "Murder Go Round" by Carol J Perry (Witch City Mysteries)

 I recently finished enjoy another book in the Witch City Mystery series by Carol J. Perry. There are 11 books in the series, "Murder Go Round," this is my third one. Each book has fantastic characters (who all live in Salem, Mass. - thus "Witch City Mysteries"). The lead character, Maralee is a 30 something spunky woman who taught a media course, and previously worked for a television station. Her 60 something Aunt Ibby, a retired librarian with an astounding memory, works with her to figure out murders or crimes - despite Maralee's boyfriend, Pete, a local policeman, telling her not to get involved. 

   This was a GREAT and detailed mystery the keeps you reading. It starts with Maralee and Ibby buying the contents of an abandoned storage locker, that winds up having secrets that someone thinks is worth killing over. I couldn't put this down!!! 5 of 5 stars.

Here's the book summary:

A killer takes a spin through Salem . . .

Lee Barrett has agreed to attend a storage auction with Aunt Ibby—even though she suspects the forgotten rooms will yield more junk than treasure. Her skepticism vanishes once the two win a bid on an overlooked locker and uncover a trove of beautiful curiosities, including a stunning wooden carousel horse with gentle eyes and fading paint. But just before Lee leaves the fairground relic at a local repair shop, the sight of a silver samovar awakens her psychic abilities and conjures visions of murder.

Lee prays the intrusive ESP episode was just a glimpse into the past—until her policeman boyfriend reports a dead man outside the repair shop. Apparently, the unknown victim had been hot on Lee’s trail since the auction. And with the horse found dismantled, it looks like he was up to no good. What’s the story behind the antique equine, and could a strange bubblegum-chewing woman with fiery hair have something to do with the crime? Guided by her gift and O’Ryan, her wise tabby cat, Lee’s set on catching the murderer . . . before she’s sent on the darkest ride of her life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Biography

Carol J. Perry was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween eve, and that magical city serves as the backdrop for her Witch City Mystery series. She is also the author of several young adult novels. Her nonfiction articles on travel, antiques, and ecology often appear in regional and national publications.

HERE ARE THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES IN ORDER

Caught Dead Handed     (2014)  

Tails, You Lose   (2015)  

Look Both Ways (2015)  **READ IT - 5 of 5 stars- CLICK FOR MY REVIEW**

Murder Go Round            (2017)    **READ IT!  5 of 5 stars** 

Grave Errors       (2017)  

It Takes a Coven               (2018)  

Bells, Spells, and Murders            (2018)  

Final Exam          (2019)  

Late Checkout   (2019)  

Murder, Take Two           (2020)   **READ IT - ANOTHER 5 of 5 STAR BOOK!***CLICK FOR MY REVIEW

See Something  (2021)  

Wonderful Mystery! Murder Take Two by Carol J Perry (Witch City Mysteries) & Great Recipe I Tried

 I recently enjoyed reading my third book in the Witch City Mysteries called "Murder Take Two" by Carol J Perry. I love, love, love this series!!  The main character, Maralee, a reporter on WICH-TV, lives with her aunt (a retired librarian), and a boy friend, Pete, who is a local police detective. Maralee also has an ability to see things in mirrors that help her solve mysteries. There are great supporting characters, too. 

*There is also a recipe for Pizza dough Cinnamon buns that I made, and they were delicious!. 

 What I loved about this story:

There was a murder that parallels one that happened 100 years before, and one particular history teacher is suspected. The story presents twists and turns, and keeps you guessing. It's pretty fast-paced, too, which I enjoy. 5 of 5 Stars

Note: Before this mystery, I tried reading a new series (which I will not name) and read 150 pages before I put it down. In that series, the reader was introduced to an entire neighborhood of characters, and it was overwhelming. This series doesn't have that issue at all. 

Witch City Mysteries have great, consistent characters, that you really want to know more about. I can't wait to read all of them (I think there are 9 or 10). 
BONUS- In the back there are a couple of recipes, and I made one- Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls- They were DELICIOUS. 

ABOUT THE BOOK: When a copycat killer has reporter Lee Barrett brushing up on ancient history, it’s a test where failure could be lethal . . .

 
As a Salem, Massachusetts, native, WICH-TV field reporter and amateur sleuth Lee Barrett is well versed in the region’s lore. So when the murder of revered local professor Samuel Bond resembles a killing from almost two centuries ago, everyone is on edge. Especially assistant professor Cody McGinnis . . .
 
Not only did Cody have differences with Bond, he even taught a course on the historic murder. And when his fingerprints and ladder are found at the crime scene, the police are certain of his guilt. Cody’s family, however, believes otherwise and asks Lee for assistance. Now, with the help of her clairvoyant cat, O’Ryan, her tech-savvy librarian aunt and housemate Ibby, and Pete Mondello, her handsome detective beau, Lee will delve deeper than ever into Salem’s past—and into her own psychic gifts—to find the real killer—before someone else is history . . .